Two weeks after a devastating bus crash on a departmental highway, Colombian vallenato singer Carlos Alberto “Kbeto” Zuleta appeared smiling in a photograph from his hospital bed in Barranquilla.
The image, which circulated on social media, showed the son of Poncho Zuleta resting with a visible smile during what appeared to be a video call. His brother, Candé Zuleta, shared the photograph online alongside a short message of faith and family support.
The accident occurred in the pre-dawn hours of October 26, 2026. The tour bus carrying Zuleta and his musical group was returning to Valledupar after a private performance in Sincelejo, Sucre, when it veered off the road and plunged from a bridge into the Ariguaní River in a stretch between El Difícil, Magdalena, and Bosconia, Cesar.
Local authorities and reporting from the region confirmed that the crash resulted in multiple injuries and fatalities. Among those who died were the group’s guitar player, Harold Santana, and coristas Geovanny Lobo and Radamel Uribe, the latter of whom died on November 8 after remaining hospitalized for his injuries.
Zuleta sustained injuries that required the amputation of his left leg. Following initial emergency treatment, he was transferred via air ambulance on October 27 to the Clínica Iberoamérica in Barranquilla.
Medical Updates and Ongoing Recovery in Barranquilla
Doctors and family members have provided updates regarding the singer’s postoperative progress. On October 31, Zuleta awoke spontaneously, allowing medical staff to successfully remove his mechanical ventilation.
By November 4, surgeons performed two additional operations. His brother Héctor Arturo Zuleta, who is also a physician, provided a condition report to local media.
He continues to evolve positively. He has been in his postoperative phase for two days. On Wednesday, they performed two surgical procedures on him. There are still several to go, there are still little things left to fix, so to speak, but he is stable, conscious, and receiving his respective care.
Héctor Arturo Zuleta told El Espectador
The family’s attending physician, Jorge Mario Córdoba, confirmed the positive trajectory in statements to the media, noting that the patient remained under specialized care.
Regarding Kbeto’s health, I can only say that he is evolving satisfactorily and is under the best medical care, with the best scientists and the best family and social support.
Jorge Mario Córdoba told El Espectador
Other members of the family have also spoken about the road ahead. Claudia Zuleta told reporters that the artist has presented a favorable evolution and that the family maintains faith in his recovery.
Zuleta Mourns His Fallen Band Members
Beyond physical rehabilitation, the artist has faced emotional distress upon learning about the fatalities among his traveling companions. Dr. Córdoba recounted that when Zuleta first regained consciousness, his immediate concerns were for his band members.
The singer asked after the members of his musical group and broke down in tears when informed that his colleagues had died in the crash.
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of solidarity across the Colombian vallenato community. Fellow artists, fans, and family members have shared messages. Héctor Zuleta posted a video performance of a song dedicated to his brother and the members of his group, urging them not to surrender to adversity.
Meanwhile, Poncho Zuleta suspended his public performance schedule to be near his son. The musician shared a video on Instagram from a previous time, capturing a birthday tribute where Kbeto expressed his admiration for his father.
Before being an artist, you are first a dad. Because for me, you as an artist are in the background. The foreground for me is dad, and you are a dad.
Kbeto Zuleta told La Kalle
With further surgeries and a recovery process still required, family members continue to ask the public for prayers and support as the singer heals in Barranquilla.
